By MARC KOVACDix Capital Bureau Published: February 23, 2013 4:00 AM

COLUMBUS -- Democrats in the Ohio House plan to introduce legislation that would require bipartisan appointments to head the office responsible for investigating wrongdoing among state agencies and officials.

Reps. Connie Pillich, from Cincinnati, and Chris Redfern, from Catawba, said the new bill is similar to legislation offered last session in an attempt to strengthen the Ohio Inspector General's Office.

"It provides the necessary distance from political activities to ensure that the inspector general effectively and objectively investigates potential wrongdoing by state officials," Pillich said during a press conference at the Statehouse Wednesday. She added, "By using a bipartisan appointing authority, we ensure that the inspector general is a watchdog and not a partisan lapdog."

Under current law, the inspector general is appointed by the governor for a four-year term that coincides with the latter's term.

Under the legislation proposed by Pillich and Redfern, the inspector general would be appointed by the majority and minority leaders of the Ohio House and Senate, with bipartisan support required.

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The bill also would prohibit inspectors general from participating in partisan activities, including political party fundraisers. And it would set the term for inspectors general at six years, meaning they would serve potentially through terms of different office-holders.

Democrats have been critical of current Inspector General Randy Meyer, who was appointed by Gov. John Kasich.

In a released statement Wednesday, Meyer said he was willing to assist lawmakers with any proposed law changes that would affect his office.

"The legislators elected to the Ohio General Assembly have every right to revisit and debate the way officers of our government are appointed and selected," he said. "I don't believe it should be any other way. At the time the legislature might call me, I will be glad to appear and offer my comment."

Pillich and Redfern said the legislation was being offered, in part, because of the lack of a final inspector general report for Tom Noe. He's serving prison time for the theft of rare coin investment funds as part in what became known as the "Coingate" scandal.

The inspector general has not yet issued a final report in the years-old investigation. The office does not comment on investigations while in progress but has said a report in the Noe matter will be produced and released to the public.

Marc Kovac is the Dix Capital Bureau Chief. Email him at mkovac@dixcom.com or on Twitter at OhioCapitalBlog.